Gemini Trains, a British start-up backed by a Middle Eastern sovereign wealth fund, has announced plans to launch direct high-speed rail services from London to Cologne by 2030. The service would reduce travel time from around six hours with at least one change to a direct four-hour journey.
New routes and stations
Gemini intends to lease eight electric trains, each accommodating more than 550 passengers, with plans to run 11 services daily by 2030. The company will also offer routes to Paris, stopping at Disneyland and Charles de Gaulle airport, as well as Brussels, with future expansion to Frankfurt and Düsseldorf. Stratford International would join St Pancras as a London departure point, and services may call at Ebbsfleet International and Ashford International in Kent, where Eurostar last stopped in 2020.
Competition and pricing
Eurostar has been the sole commercial operator in the Channel Tunnel for over 30 years, currently using only about 50% of available track slots. Recent regulatory changes now allow competing services. Adrian Quine, CEO of Gemini Trains, said the company plans to 'shake things up by offering new routes, new stations, new trains, new interiors, new cheaper fares and encouraging people to shift from plane to train.' While ticket prices from London to Cologne have not been released, Gemini estimates introductory one-way fares to Paris will start from approximately £59.
Impact on travel
Direct trains will cut travel time to Cologne by about two hours compared to current options requiring a change. Gemini's entry into the market is expected to increase competition and potentially lower fares, providing an alternative to air travel. Eurostar had previously revealed plans for direct services to Cologne and Frankfurt by the early 2030s, but Gemini's timeline brings direct connections to Germany even sooner.
